APIA, Samoa (Samoa Observer, Dec. 29, 2013) – A group of matai (chiefs) who care deeply about the future of Samoa in terms of maintaining ownership of customary land has stepped up to challenge the all-powerful Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The group, spearheaded by Lilomaiava Ken Lameta, of Vaimoso and Safotu, has filed a letter of complaint against the ADB over a project they say "could alienate 80 per cent of all land in Samoa."

Other group members include Teleiai Dr. Sapa Saifaleupolu, of Samatau, Fiu Mataese Elisara, of Sili Savai’i and Leulua’iali’i Tasi Malifa, of Afega.

In a letter to ADB dated 19 December 2013, the four men filed a complaint under policies that are supposed to protect "indigenous" people affected by bank projects.

A copy of the letter has been obtained by the Sunday Samoan. [PIR editor’s note: Scroll down to the...

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (The Samoa News, Dec. 28, 2013) – The Le Fetuao Samoan Language Center has received a three-year grant from the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) to preserve and maintain the Samoan language, including $211,639 for the first year of operation. It is the first ever award by the ANA for Samoan language preservation and maintenance in the U.S.

Responding last week to this landmark award, U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa (HI-01) said, "This is an important step and a powerful acknowledgement of the importance of the Samoan language and culture in our nation."

"While we in Hawai’i are aware of the impact Pacific Island cultures have on our community, this will give Le Fetuao a chance to spread that knowledge across the U.S. I want to congratulate and thank the center for their hard work...

SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Sun, Dec. 29, 2013) – Labasa has been eyed as a possible site for a sugar refinery for Fiji.

This was confirmed to the Fiji Sun yesterday by the Permanent Secretary for Sugar, Lieutenant-Colonel Manasa Vaniqi.

During their recent sugar meeting in London, Lieutenant-Colonel Vaniqi said the Prime Minister and Minister for Sugar, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, had given them a directive for Fiji to have its own refinery.

"We’re working on that now and soon we’re going to have our sugar refinery and Labasa has been earmarked for it," Lieutenant-Colonel Vaniqi said.

Today a 14-member team from Shanghai, China, will arrive soon from Hong Kong to meet with Lieutenant-Colonel Vaniqi.

Setting up a refinery in Labasa will be a topic for discussion. In fact the group is keen in setting up a refinery here.

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post, Dec. 30, 2013) – The country’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Patrick Crowby Manarewo, has died at the Gaston Bourret Hospital in Noumea New Caledonia, at the age of 55.

His death comes five days after his medical evacuation to the French territory on Monday for him to receive further medical treatment after his hospitalization at the Vila Central Hospital last Friday evening.

The Daily Post still has no confirmed information on the cause of his illness that has resulted in his death.

An official statement from the Office of the Prime Minister released Friday afternoon says "the Government of Vanuatu regrets to announce to everyone that the Right Honorable Patrick Crowby Manarewo (MP), Minister of Internal Affairs and Members of Parliament for Port Vila Constituency died...

Plaintiffs get help appealing dismissal of suit claiming U.S. citizenship

By Fili Sagapolutele

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (The Samoa News, Dec. 28, 2013) – There is a new twist in the appeal by six American Samoans who filed their citizenship lawsuit, along with a California based Samoan organization against the federal government arguing that they are entitled to being U.S. citizens under a provision of the U.S. Constitution.

The lower court in June this year dismissed the lawsuit, and sided with the U.S. State Department, the federal government, and two officials of the U.S. State Department. The defendants have asked the appeals court in Washington D.C. to affirm the lower court’s decision.

However, on Dec. 20, a professor of law in the U.S., one Samuel Erman filed a notice with the appeals court of his intention to file an ‘amicus curiae’ (friend of the court) brief in support of the plaintiffs. [PIR editor’s note:...

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Dec. 30, 2013) – An air quality testing expert says potentially hazardous levels of airborne asbestos has been found at a primary school in the Cook Islands.

The Cook Islands News says the quality and technician manager, Stuart Keer-Keer, for K2 Environmental Limited, found there is a risk of exposure to asbestos at Rarotonga's Avarua School.

The school was one of 11 areas Mr Keer-Keer tested for asbestos in the air and was the only area found to have levels high enough where there is a risk of exposure.

The Ministry of Education has subsequently closed Avarua School, the students of which are already on holiday, until the end of January, while further testing is done.

It's expected Mr Keer-Keer will return to Rarotonga in a few weeks after taking soil samples from Avarua School back to New Zealand for testing.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Dec. 27, 2013) – More than 20 families are receiving emergency help after more than 90 houses were burnt down and crops destroyed at Sing village in Papua New Guinea's Bougainville last Friday.

New Dawn FM reports the houses were burnt down in retaliation after a man from the Solos area of Peit constituency on Buka Island was killed, allegedly by a youth from nearby Sing village.

The Post Courier says the 3 houses that were not torched had all their possessions taken.

It also reports that the arsonists mistakenly destroyed coconut plantations owned by relatives of the dead man.

Local MPs have been called in to try and ease tensions between the two village groups.

The Bougainville Disaster Coordinator, Franklyn Lacey, says rations of rice and noodles are being provided for the families, as well as tents, water and eating...

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Dec. 28, 2013) – People living on the drought-sticken Long Island in Papua New Guinea's Madang province have been promised help by the provincial government.

A six month drought has been affecting the more than 5 thousand people on Long Island.

The newspaper 'The National' reports that nine islanders reportedly died after they ate sago because there was no other food available.

The Madang governor, Jim Kas, visited the island last week after the newspaper carried a front page story highlighting the plight of the islanders.

He says the provincial government will provide weekly charter flights to enable public servants to deliver government services to the people on the island.

The paper reports the people who live there have been missing out on basic government services for years, mainly because of communication problems.

The fund, managed by the Florida-based Investor Solutions, earned at over 12 percent for fiscal year 2013, ending the year (Sept. 30) at $59.7 million. And the strong performance of U.S. and international markets continued into October, with the fund increasing to over $61 million by the end of October.

It is good news for the Marshall Islands Social Security Administration or MISSA.

But, said money manager Frank Armstrong, even this type of investment return will not solve the financial problems facing MISSA, problems that need to be addressed through changes to legislation governing the retirement system.

The investment gain over the previous year was more than $6.7 million. But at the same time, MISSA withdrew over $5 million to meet...

HAGÃ TÃA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, Dec. 30, 2013) – A slower military buildup could promote a balance between different industries, according to an Adelup official -- and that's good for local business owners and the community.

The military buildup was supposed to be completed around next year, but funding and budget concerns in Washington, D.C., have pushed it back, according to Pacific Daily News files.

Military officials now expect to transfer thousands of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam by 2020 as part of a larger realignment of U.S. forces.

President Barack Obama Friday signed the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act, allocating almost $495 million in spending for construction projects on Guam in fiscal 2014.

The defense bill's allocation for the island is the second-highest military construction funding for Guam since fiscal 2010, when $700 million was...

Pacific Islands Report is a nonprofit news publication of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Offered as a free service to readers, PIR provides an edited digest of news, commentary and analysis from across the Pacific Islands region, Monday - Friday.